Bimuno UK

The Gut Microbiome

The Science behind Bimuno®

The Gut Microbiome

The Science behind Bimuno®

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What is Bimuno®?

Bimuno® is a prebiotic supplement containing galactooligosaccharides (GOS). GOS is derived from lactose, a natural component of cow's milk, the GOS in Bimuno® is enzymatically derived from lactose.

The efficacy and safety of Bimuno® is supported by over 100 scientific publications, including over 20 clinical trials.

Bimuno® is selectively fermented by bifidobacteria in the colon, growing beneficial bacteria naturally found in the gut. It is scientifically proven to increase levels of bifidobacteria in just 7 days*.

Bifidobacteria is a genus which has been shown to be beneficial to health through several mechanisms including:

provision of nutrients and metabolites (such as vitamins, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) through the breakdown of non-digestible dietary carbohydrates)
protection of the host against pathogens by competitive exclusion
cross-feeding other health-promoting bacteria and decreasing the gut pH, making it more difficult for pathogenic bacteria to grow in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract
involvement in production of neurotransmitters important for brain function
protection and maintenance of the gut barrier
playing a role in development and modulation of the immune system

In addition, in infants, specific species of bifidobacteria are important for metabolising human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in breast milk, which have a role in promoting their health and protecting against pathogenic bacteria.

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The importance of the gut microbiome

The gut microbiome is associated with many aspects of health including digestion, immunity and brain function. Whilst there is no blueprint for an ideal gut microbiome, it’s accepted that diversity between bacterial species is the goal.

Generally, we do not know the composition of our gut microbiome, so a dietary based approach is recommended to maintain diversity. As good and potentially bad bacteria compete for space in the gut microbiome, encouraging the growth of good bacteria will preferentially change the ratio between them.

Unlike probiotics, prebiotics are heat and acid stable and travel through the digestive system intact until they reach the large intestine where they are fermented. The GOS in Bimuno® is the preferred substrate for bifidobacteria and lactobacillis, which are two types of beneficial species of gut bacteria.

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The role of prebiotics in the fibre gap

According to a study conducted on behalf of Public Health England, less than 10% of adults achieve their daily fibre target intake (which includes 5g of prebiotic fibre). In the UK, the average fibre consumption of adults is 18-20g per day which is considerably short of the recommended intake of 30g per day.

Some prebiotics, which can be found both naturally in fruit and vegetables and in supplement form, contain fibre which can contribute to the recommended daily intake. An intake of Bimuno® DAILY for example, contains 2g of prebiotic fibre, which helps to achieve the target 5g per day.

Although a food-first approach is recommended, support through a supplement such as Bimuno®, can offer an easy way to bridge the fibre gap for those who struggle to achieve the recommended amount through diet alone.

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